When to plant in Lafayette, CA
USDA Zone 9bHere are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Lafayette, California — all computed from Lafayette's nearest NOAA weather station.
With about 346 frost-free days, Lafayette supports back-to-back plantings; stagger sowings every few weeks to keep beds productive spring through fall. Zone 9b is warm enough that Lafayette can grow subtropical perennials, and the short (or absent) frost period barely limits the annual calendar.
The average last spring frost in Lafayette is now 7 days earlier than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
CONCORD WWTP · 1991–2020The date the last spring and first fall frost occur, by threshold and probability. A 90% date is later in spring — and earlier in fall — than a 10% date; the 50% · 32°F row is what most gardeners plan around. These are Lafayette’s own odds, recorded at CONCORD WWTP.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Mar 6 | Feb 9 | Jan 6 | Nov 15 | Dec 2 | Dec 24 |
| 32°F | Feb 1 | Jan 7 | Dec 19 | Dec 1 | Dec 19 | Jan 12 |
| 28°F | Jan 20 | Dec 31 | Dec 14 | Dec 10 | Dec 29 | Jan 14 |
Download this table as CSV ↓ — every threshold and probability, plus this city’s planting-window dates.
What to plant now
TODAY · JULY 19Nothing new to sow or transplant outdoors in the next few weeks — a seasonal lull. Check the full-year calendar below for the next window.
Full-year planting calendar
Each bar is the exact window to take a planting action in Lafayette, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 13 km · complete 32°F normalsWhen stations disagree by more than a few days, that spread is real microclimate variation — elevation, water, urban heat. Judge which station best matches your own yard.
Lafayette planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Lafayette, CA?
Plan for the last spring frost in Lafayette around January 7 (the date it has a 50% chance of a 32°F freeze). Anything frost-sensitive should go out after it.
When is the first fall frost in Lafayette, CA?
In Lafayette, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around December 19 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is Lafayette in?
Lafayette is in USDA hardiness zone 9b. In zone 9b, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Lafayette?
There are roughly 346 frost-free days in Lafayette (a long growing season), running from the average last frost around January 7 to the first fall frost near December 19.
When should I plant tomatoes in Lafayette?
In Lafayette, start tomato seeds indoors around November 12–November 26, then transplant seedlings outdoors around January 14 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Lafayette
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Lafayette’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Orinda · 4 km
- Moraga · 5 km
- Walnut Creek · 7 km
- Pleasant Hill · 8 km
- Alamo · 10 km
- Martinez · 12 km
- Piedmont · 12 km
- Concord · 14 km
Frost dates recorded at CONCORD WWTP, 11 km from the city center · 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals · zone from the USDA/PRISM 2023 map. How we compute this.
BlissGarden. "When to Plant in Lafayette, CA — Frost Dates & Zone 9b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00041967. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/california/lafayette.